Related Coverage

SUAMICO — Alexis LeCalsey admitted Thursday when she stepped in the circle to face Bay Port she was nervous.

The Pirates entered the game scoring 20 runs in its first three Fox River Classic Conference games, so LeCalsey knew she had to be at her best, and she was.

The senior pitcher scattered six hits and recorded seven strikeouts as De Pere handed the Pirates their first FRCC loss, thumping Bay Port, 10-0.

“It’s a really big win, because Bay Port is really good,” LeCalsey said. “We came out here and tried our best and did really well.”

“What Lexi did was give us a chance to win,” De Pere coach Steve Austin said. “She pitched a very good game, she pitched a strategic game. She hit her spots. She did the things she needs to do to make us a successful team.”

LeCalsey’s outing was impressive, but more so since it came in a light rain. The UW-Green Bay recruit never lost command of her pitches and she wasn’t worried about the conditions.

“I try to ignore it and pitch like any other day,” she said.

The 10 runs for De Pere marked the third time this season the Redbirds hit double figures, but it was the first time since a doubleheader sweep of Sheboygan South in the first two games of the season.

De Pere’s offense took advantage of the fact Bay Port’s No. 1 pitcher Bailey Smaney was out with an injury. The Redbirds were led by junior Miranda Peterson, who had four hits and sophomore Trisha Drage who collected three hits, including a home run.

Austin didn’t care Bay Port (4-3, 3-1) was shorthanded, because it’s not often the Redbirds (9-2, 8-2) beat the Pirates.

“Any time you have a win against Bay Port it’s a good thing, regardless of the circumstances,” Austin said. “Bay Port has been a good program for a long time. I don’t know what the history is, but I don’t think De Pere has beaten Bay Port in a long time.

“This is a very big win for us. I understand they didn’t throw their No. 1, but we shut them out, so I take a lot of pride in that.”

With the Bay Port loss, Green Bay Preble entered Friday’s play as the only perfect team in the FRCC at 6-0. De Pere is one of six teams in the conference with two losses or less.

Prior to the season, the thinking was Preble, Bay Port and Ashwaubenon would battle for the league title and top three spots, but maybe Thursday’s win means De Pere could find itself in the mix.

“I think we can go pretty far, if we play like this all the time,” LeCalsey said.